Finnick Odair and Sirena Nighthart both won their respective Hunger Games at age 14. Both from District 4. Finnick and Sirena both grow up in the Capitol, though keeping their distance from each other. What happens when both get reaped at the Quarter Quell for the 75th Hunger Games?

We walk away and I ask,  "How are you so good at that?"  "Good at what?"  "People, I mean the way you talked to her was intimidating and you didn't even have to say anything directly threatening," I remark, 

"It's how you use people around here, Blue," he says while we get on our chariot. My hands shake slightly, but he holds my hand once more.  "Don't let Snow know you're afraid. You and I gotta show him that we're not scared," he whispers in my ear. 

The chariots begin to move forward and he holds my hand, preparing to raise it in the air.

Everyone in the Capitol and all the victors know that Finnick and I are a force to be reckoned with. That I never doubted. The only thing I'm nervous about is keeping me and Finnick alive. 

The crowd cheers as the chariots roll in a line. Just like last time. It's all just like last time. 

I hear my name being chanted by a few people in the crowd, but it's hard to hear over the drums beating loudly as we move. 

Finnick's hand holds mine gently, of course, he knows that I'm nervous. 

I don't smile the way he does, my face stays hardened. It's the only way right now that I can conceal the fact that I am terrified.  We are one of the first carriages to roll around the circle to where President Snow stands. His eyes follow me and Finn carefully. 

No signs of emotion are on his face. Nothing other than a stoic and serious look from him.  His eyes follow us still, but as I make eye contact with him he gives me a nod. I clench my jaw a bit, my body stiffening up. 

Finnick looks to President Snow as well, but the smirk does not leave his lips. He raises our hands in the air, just as a few of the other chariots do.  What the hell did that nod mean? And why does he always look at me with such intrigue and curiosity? 

I don't understand. 

The chariots begin to roll back the way we came, and I just feel relieved that I no longer have to be under the eyes of President Snow. Now his eyes are on Katniss. 

If President Snow ever figures out our plan to protect her then we're all dead. Well, we may already be dead anyway given the situation. 

I wish it were simpler. Just protect Finnick and me. 

But I can't do that because I have to protect her now. For the sake of Panem. 

"How ya feeling, Blue?" Finnick asks me with a grin on his face,  "I feel like I'm re-living the past," I mutter as if I didn't already have enough PTSD from the first time around. 

"I can assure you that most of the people here are much more afraid of you than you are of them,"  "I'm always afraid," I whisper as the chariots come to a slow stop.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That evening Haymitch Abernathy brings us into a secluded room with a few other victors that I recognize.  Finnick sits beside me, raising an eyebrow toward me about why we're here.

There are about 10 or 12 people in here, not including Haymitch.  "It's no question that Katniss has inspired everyone in the districts," he says and I ask, 

"What does that have to do with us?"  "There's a revolution against the Capitol coming. Katniss is going to be the leader. The Mockingjay. Plutarch Heavensbee is also in on it, but if you're here it means I need you to keep Katniss alive," 

"Why should we risk our lives to protect her? Especially while we're already saving our own asses in the arena," Finnick asks,  "Because this is bigger than the Games, but we need Katniss. I need you to be her allies to get her out of there," Haymitch says, and I nod while pondering it over. 

It's true that things are changing across Panem, especially because of Katniss. 

"So what? We befriend her in the arena? What then?"  "Heavensbee and I have a plan to get her out when necessary, but you can't let her know or discuss the plan outside of this room," Haymitch argues and I nod. 

"Well, I'm in," I say,  "Sirena," Finnick argues,  "We need this. Panem needs her," I argue and he sighs, 

"Well if Nighthart's in then I'm in," He says and it makes my stomach flip just a little to hear him say that. 

Everyone else in the room eventually agrees to help Katniss, it's ironic that she doesn't even know we're all willing to risk our lives for her.

We all know what's been coming for years now, and we know that Panem needs the Mockingjay to overthrow The Capitol. 

We leave the room a bit after that, knowing that this Quarter Quell is now much bigger than ourselves.  As we walk back to the tribute village, I notice an unusual number of guards around the floor where Finnick and I are staying. 

"Oh God," I whisper, knowing all too well what this is going to mean.  As we arrive at the main room Finnick still has a smirk plastered on his face, but it doesn't reach his eyes. 

"President Snow," I say with a smile, making sure that it does reach my eyes,  The menacing man sits at the table in the middle of the room, simply enjoying a glass of wine. Guards stand around him all over the room, 

"Finnick Odair. Miss Nighthart," He says,  "What brings you here?" Finnick asks charmingly,  "I wanted to speak to Miss Nighthart, privately," He says, sipping his drink. 

Finnick stands slightly in front of me, unmoving, 

His face would never show it, but I can tell how tense his body is now.

Not wanting to leave the room...aka leave me.  

"Of course, President Snow," I say kindly, putting my hand on Finnick's arm for just a moment.  "Well I'll be right upstairs, then," He says, giving me a reassuring nod while hesitantly walking away. 

Finnick Odair and Sirena Nighthart both won their respective Hunger Games at age 14. Both from District 4. Finnick and Sirena both grow up in the Capitol, though keeping their distance from each other. What happens when both get reaped at the Quarter Quell for the 75th Hunger Games?

"Sirena! Sirena! Look over here!" A reporter calls as she turns her body to face yet another camera flash. Even after 9 years of being in the spotlight, she doesn't think that she will ever get used to this. 

Sirena flashes another big smile at everyone and gets guided up the steps to the stage. Nobody in the audience would be able to tell that she's sweating bullets, but she's never been this scared in her life.

Not since the games at least. 

As she approaches the stage, she sees Finnick Odair standing there by himself. He's the only male tribute alive to have won from District 4, so he already knows he will be participating in the 75th Hunger Games. 

Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark won the most recent games. The 74th annual Hunger Games, but ever since then the rioting has gotten worse. President Snow realizes that and he also realizes that Katniss is a symbol of hope to those who are suffering. 

Sirena was surprised to learn that President Snow allowed two victors, but the two of them managed to sell their love story so well that she supposes the rules were changed. 

She was only 14 when she won the 66th annual Hunger Games, so she has been in the spotlight for many many years now.  Her heart races as people surround her and say hello from every direction. She smiles and greets every person, but underneath she is always terrified.

The cameras are on her and the crowds of people from her district look up at the victors with pride. 

It's easy to put up a front for the people, but they don't realize how it is all a fraud.   "Well well well, Sirena Nighthart," an all-too-familiar cocky voice says, 

"Finnick Odair," she says with a forced smile as he offers her a hand as she walks up the steps. Both are past victors from District 4, so they have crossed paths many times since they were just children.  Finnick and Sirena won back-to-back games, both to be the youngest victors Panem has ever seen. 

They keep conversations light and casual whenever they get to see each other in the public eye, but both know each other's secrets. Of course, he never directly told her, but it's hard to both exist in the Capitol and not know about the prostitution he was forced into. 

The only reason she wasn't forced into the same situation is that President Snow wanted to keep her image to the public as 'pure' and 'innocent'. It's a joke. An innocent little girl who murdered 9 people.

She knows that she is Snow's pride and joy, though it makes her sick. 

Sirena stands on the other side of the stage beside Mags, her old mentor, and Annie Cresta. Annie won a few years after Sirena did, bringing even more joy to District 4 than Finnick and herself already had. 

Her heart beats out of her chest. Hardly surviving the first games alone, she doesn't know how it's possible to make it through once again for a second time. Especially against opponents who have all won in the past.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"The male tribute from District 4...Finnick Odair," the announcer says and Sirena closes her eyes, feeling nauseous.  "And the female tribute to represent District 4..." 

Everyone watches the small piece of paper be plucked from the bowl, thus deciding her fate, 

"Sirena Nighthart,"  The crowd roars in excitement and more cameras flash her way, and she flashes a smile. It is the most forced smile she's ever done. It is taking every ounce of strength not to start sobbing. 

Finnick walks over to her, also having his usual cocky smirk plastered on his face. He takes her hand and raises it into the air as the crowd cheers more.  She is trying so so hard to not let her body shake right now,  He continues to smile but then gives her hand a reassuring squeeze. 

Immediately a pair of hands lead her body away from the stage and to the train. It doesn't matter anyway...being an orphan and having no family to say farewell to.  The guards push Sirena and Finnick onto the train and the doors shut once they're fully in. 

"Looks like Snow finally upped his creativity level," Finnick says to her with a smirk as the guards lead them to another room, but she doesn't return the smile, "This isn't like the last time. Last time we were all nervous teenagers, now we're fighting skilled victors. Some of which are our friends," She says, 

"Good. Makes it more fun," he grins confidently and walks away down to the other end of the train. Her stomach churns in fear as she walks in the opposite direction to the couch at the back of the train. 

As she sits there she checks to see what other Victors have been chosen to fight in the 75th Hunger Games. The older ones will be easy enough, but the most recent ones are a scary thought to her. She learned a long time ago to trust nobody but herself. 

The train gets to the Capitol faster than she would've preferred.

She gets off the train with Finnick somewhere behind her. Making this into a joke is exactly what she should've expected from him, and honestly, she doesn't know how he manages to put up that front with their lives on the line. 

They silently enter the vehicles that take them to the towers where the tributes are all staying. This is when the real show begins.  Sirena's known all these people personally for years and has never seemed like a threat to any of them because she didn't need to.

Now she needs to. 

They walk into the building and suddenly are surrounded by people they know.  What she's noticed consistently are cameras. The stage, the train, the cars, and now here in this building. There are video cameras in every single place they've stepped foot. This is nothing new for either of them, knowing that Snow is watching each and every move they both make. 

Finnick walks a distance behind her, not that it matters since they'll be staying in the same suite anyway. 

Finnick Odair and Sirena Nighthart both won their respective Hunger Games at age 14. Both from District 4. Finnick and Sirena both grow up in the Capitol, though keeping their distance from each other. What happens when both get reaped at the Quarter Quell for the 75th Hunger Games?

Third POV

A few floors above Finnick and Sirena are Peeta and Katniss.

This morning Haymitch Abernathy is taking the time to show Peeta and Katniss all the tributes that they will be facing. Tributes that he is all too familiar with. 

"Cashmere and Gloss. Brother and sister from District 1," he says while showing the pair of siblings on the screen. Both tall and extremely well-built for the Games.  "They won back-to-back Games. Capitol favorites, lots of sponsors, and will indeed be lethal," 

The screen switches to Brutus and Enobaria from District 2.  "What's with her teeth?" Katniss asks, referring to the sharpened teeth on the woman, 

"She had them filed into fangs so she could rip people's throats out," Haymitch says, increasing the nerves of both Peeta and Katniss. 

"District 3. Wiress and Beetee. Not fighters, but indeed brilliantly intelligent," Haymitch says, showing the two older tributes on the screen,  "He won his games by electrocuting six tributes at once," 

They both raise their eyebrows, impressed that anyone without fighting skills was capable of winning the games, 

"District 6. The morphlings. Basically, won their Games by hiding until everyone else was dead," Haymitch explains, "Self-medicating ever since. Which I applaud, but indeed not a threat," He says. 

The screen switches to reveal a blonde man with a white sweater on the screen, a smirk plastered on his face. Beside him is an intense-looking girl with bright blue hair and shocking blue eyes, she doesn't share the same smirk, but instead a serious look and sharp jawline.  "Finnick Odair and Sirena Nighthart, right?" Katniss asks, 

"Yes, both from District 4. Both won their respective back-to-back Games at age 14, being the youngest ever. They both are the Capitol darlings and are deeply loved here. Finnick is known to be extremely charming and smart. He and Sirena are both extremely skilled in combat, particularly in water," 

"What are their weaknesses?"  "None. That I currently know of," he says, making Katniss and Peeta both more nervous. 

Sirena's POV

I stand intensely still as about a dozen designers and make-up artists work on my face, hair, and costume for the tribute parade.  My dress is blue and quite ocean-y, which is always the goal for District 4. 

Lots and lots of sparkles on my nails, lips, and face. I also have this huge and heavy seashell crown on top of my head. 

I groan as my hair is yanked to be put up in a big dramatic braid. Blue and gold makeup is done on my face while I watch in the mirror, they do fish-scale-looking makeup on the sides of my face. My lipstick is also a vibrant blue and purple color. 

As it all comes together I do admit that I kinda look badass, and much cooler than I did the first time around.  I get guided by all sorts of people down to where the chariots are awaiting us.

Just before I enter the area Finnick walks over to me. 

His costume is insanely more simple than mine is. He has no shirt on and has a fishing net type of bottoms on.  I can't help myself but stare just a little bit at his bare chest.

Just a little.

"Hey, Blue," he says with a grin and I raise an eyebrow,  "C'mon if we're gonna be fighting for our lives together I may as well give you a nickname, right?" he asks and I smile just a little bit, 

together

"You look gorgeous, by the way," he grins and I roll my eyes,  "Flattery gets you nowhere, Odair,"  He smirks while taking my hand to walk into the main area. The hand holding is only a strategy at this point to get people to be on our side and adore us.

That's been the goal since we were 14 years old. 

On the way to our chariot, we say hello to dozens of people that we both know including some victors we will have to fight very very soon.

I continue to remind myself to put on a smile, at least for now. I've always been known to be much more soft-spoken than Finnick, so in some ways, I'm relying on him to strengthen allies for both of us. 

I look to my left to see Katniss Everdeen, and I gotta admit, she is pretty damn intimidating. "Should we go introduce ourselves?" Finnick asks me with a grin and I simply nod. 

He keeps holding my hand, which I appreciate.  "Katniss," I say and she turns to both of us walking over to her, 

"Sirena. Finnick." She says and Finnick asks,  "You want a sugar cube?" 

Where the hell did he find that?

"I mean they're supposed to be for the horses, but they got years to eat sugar, whereas you and I...well if we see something sweet, we better grab it," he says in his charismatic voice. 

Is that flirting? 

"No thanks. But I would love to borrow that outfit someday," Katniss says to him, and I smirk as does he.  "Well, you look pretty terrifying in that getup. What happened to the pretty little girl dresses?" he asks cockily, 

"I outgrew them,"  "You certainly did," he says with a grin, 

"Shame about the Quell thing. You could've made out like a bandit in The Capitol. Jewels, money, anything you wanted," He says,  "Well I don't like jewels and I have more money than I need, so... What do you both do with all your wealth, anyway?" she asks, 

"We don't deal in money," I say, speaking for the both of us,  "Then what riches do you have?"  "Secrets," I reply with a smile,  "What about you, Girl on Fire? Got any secrets worth my time?" He asks, stepping close to her, 

"I'm an open book. Everyone seems to know my secrets before I know them myself," She replies 

I like her 

"Unfortunately, I think that's true," he says, and he turns to see Peeta and Cinna walking over to us, 

"I'm sorry you had to cancel your wedding, I know how devastating that must be for you, " Finnick taunts, leading me to smile again.

Finnick Odair and Sirena Nighthart both won their respective Hunger Games at age 14. Both from District 4. Finnick and Sirena both grow up in the Capitol, though keeping their distance from each other. What happens when both get reaped at the Quarter Quell for the 75th Hunger Games?

Sirena's POV

I sit by the windows looking out over the Capitol. It's dark in here without any more guards or people. Just myself. I don't know what time it is, but it's late enough that I should most definitely be asleep by now. 

My head snaps to my left when I hear footsteps. When I look to the stairs, I see Finnick walking down the stairs also in his pajamas. We've only been here a few hours and I miss District 4 so badly. I didn't consider when we were leaving that I may never return to my home.  "What do you want?" I mutter, not in the mood for some sassy comments from him, 

"What are you doing up?" He asks quietly, looking around to make sure nobody else is there.  "Couldn't sleep," I mumble and he nods,  "Me neither," 

He sits across from me on the window sill.  "I don't like being here. It reminds me of when we were kids," I say and he asks,  "Being in the games again?"  "No. What followed the games," I say and he simply nods, already knowing what I'm referring to. 

We were only kids. President Snow used both of us in every way he could think of.

Finnick's hand gently touches mine and I hold his hand.

We were never friends.

Snow never let us be friends. 

He wanted to isolate us from each other. 

We sit there in the dark, enjoying the total silence. The lights of the city distract me from my scared thoughts about the next few days to come.  I simply focus on the quietness of the Capitol and the way that Finnick's hand feels against mine. 

He understands what it was like to grow up under the eyes of President Snow just like I do.  I don't know how long we both sit there, but it's long enough for me to realize that the smirking and cockiness are mostly an act to protect himself. 

Mostly 

Not to say the man doesn't have a bold and certainly confident demeanor, because he naturally does indeed.  He doesn't let go of my hand when we walk back upstairs to our rooms,  "You gonna be okay?" he asks, almost surprising me with more kind words and I nod my head, not entirely sure, but still sticking to my defensive independence. 

"See ya tomorrow," He says while walking back to his bedroom. I think that was the first time in forever that I haven't felt entirely alone in all of this Quarter Quell stuff.  I walk into my bedroom and lay down.

I toss and turn for hours, though I don't think I expected myself to get any sleep during all of this anyway. 

I keep running through my head who I'll be up against. The only upper hand I have is that I know each and every one of these people. I know their strengths and I know their weaknesses.